Fan with replacable vanes

ABSTRACT

A fan includes a frame, a rotor rotatably mounted in the frame, and a vane. The rotor includes a slot defined in the circumference of the rotor. The slot extends through an end surface of the rotor. The vane forms an installing portion to be inserted into the slot through the end surface. A first base and a second base are formed on the end surface at opposite sides of the slot. A blocking member is pivotably mounted to the first base with a first end, and is detachably engaged with the second base with a second end, to fix the installing portion in the slot.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan whose vanes are replaceable.

2. Description of Related Art

Vanes of fans are generally integrally formed on the circumference of the fans. As a result, if different shaped fans or more vanes are needed, new fans will be required, which is costly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of a fan.

FIG. 2 is a partially assembled, isometric view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the circled portion III of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the circled portion IV of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure, including the accompanying drawings, is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of a fan includes a hollow and substantially rectangular frame 10, a columnar rotor 30 rotatably mounted in the frame 10, and a plurality of vanes 40 detachably mounted on the circumference of the rotor 30. The frame 10 defines a vent 12 in each of the opposite ends, to expose the rotor 30 and the vanes 40.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the rotor 30 defines a plurality of slots 32 in the circumference. The slots 32 extend along a direction parallel to the rotating axis of the rotor. Each slot 32 extends through an end surface 31 of the rotor 30. Each slot 32 includes a first slot 320 having a round cross section and extending through the end surface 31, and a rectangular second slot 322 communicating with the first slot 320 and extending through the circumference of the rotor 30. The width of the second slot 322 is less than the diameter of the first slot 320.

A first base 34 and a second base 36 are formed on the end surface 31, at the opposite sides of each slot 32. The first base 34 includes a block 340 protruding from the end surface 31, and two tabs 342 protruding from opposite ends of the block 340. Each tab 342 defines a pivot hole 346. The second base 36 includes a block 360 protruding from the end surface 31, and an ear 362 protruding from the block 360 and defining a fixing hole 364 extending through opposite sides of the ear 362. A blocking member 344 is pivotably mounted to the first base 34. The blocking member 344 includes a U-shaped main portion 345 with an opening, and a pivoting portion 352 and a plate 354 substantially perpendicularly extending out from opposite ends of the main portion 345. The pivoting portion 352 substantially perpendicularly extends out from the end of the main portion 345 and extends down away from the opening of the main portion 345 to form a short flange 355. Two pins 356 extend out from opposite ends of the flange 355, to be pivotably engaged in the corresponding pivot holes 346, to pivotably mount the blocking member 344 to the first base 34. An operation piece 358 substantially perpendicularly extends from the plate 354, away from the flange 355.

Each vane 40 includes a main body 42 and an installing portion 43 connected to a side of the main body 42. The installing portion 43 includes a pole 46 having a round cross-section, and a rectangular extension portion longitudinally connected between the pole 46 and the main body 42. The width of the extension portion 44 is less than the diameter of the pole 46.

Referring to FIG. 4, in assembly of each vane 40, the installing portion 43 is inserted into a corresponding slot 32 through the end surface 31. Thereby, the pole 46 and the extension portion 44 are respectively received in the first and second slots 320 and 322.

The corresponding blocking member 344 is pivoted toward the second base 36, with the opening of the main portion 345 facing away from the end surface 31. The operation portion 358 is operated toward the first base 34, to slightly deform the main portion 345 toward the first base 34. A distal end of the plate 354 is aligned with the corresponding fixing hole 364. After the operation portion 358 is released, the main portion 345 is self-restored to allow the distal end of the plate 354 engage into the fixing hole 364. A bottom wall of the center portion 345 opposite to the opening is abutted against an end of the pole 46 at the end surface 31, to fix the vane 40 in the slot 32.

In uninstalling one of the vanes 40, the operation portion 358 is operated toward the first base 34, to disengage the distal end of the plate 354 from the fixing hole 364. Therefore, the vane 40 is ready for being taken out of the corresponding slot 32.

In another embodiment, each slot 32 can be any shape as long as the width or diameter of the second slot 322 is less than the width or the diameter of the first slot 320.

It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the description or sacrificing all of their material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being exemplary embodiments. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan, comprising: a frame; a rotor rotatably mounted in the frame and having an end surface exposed through the frame, the rotor comprising a slot defined on the circumference of the rotor , the slot extending through the end surface; a first base and a second base formed on the end surface and located at opposite sides of the slot; a vane comprising a main body, and an installing portion extending from the main body and received in the slot through the end surface; and a blocking member pivotably mounted to the first base with a first end, and detachably latched to the second base with a second end, thereby blocking the installing portion in the slot.
 2. The fan of claim 1, wherein the slot comprises a first slot, and a second slot communicating with the first slot and extending through the circumference of the rotor, a width of the first slot is greater than a width of the second slot, the installing portion comprises a pole received in the first slot, and an extension portion connected between the pole and the main body, the extension portion is received in the second slot.
 3. The fan of claim 1, wherein an ear extends from the second base, a fixing hole is defined in the ear, two tabs protrudes from the first base, the blocking member comprises an L-shaped pivoting portion formed at the first end to be pivotably mounted between the tabs, a plate formed at the second end to be engaged in the fixing hole, and a main portion connected between the pivoting portion and the plate to block the installing portion.
 4. The fan of claim 3, wherein two pins extend out from opposite ends of the pivoting portion to be pivotably engaged in the corresponding tabs.
 5. The fan of claim 4, wherein an operation portion extends from the plate.
 6. The fan of claim 4, wherein the main portion is substantially U-shaped.
 7. The fan of claim 1, wherein the slot extends along a direction parallel to the rotating axis of the rotor. 